United Nations Global Online Network on Public Administration and

UNPAN ORC-CAFRAD Tangier 15 January 2003 www.unpan.org/africa.asp1

Consultative Meeting on Training for local e-governance in Africa

Tangier 15-18 January 2003

UNPANUnited Nations Global Online Network on

Public Administration and FinancePresented by

Gianluca MisuracaAssociate Expert

UN DESA / DPEPAseconded to CAFRAD


BackgroundIn 1997, Secretary General Kofi-Annan launched a programme of reform and renewal for the United Nations. Among the principal goals were the organization-wide practice of enhanced coordination, and the elimination of duplication and overlapping of responsibilities within the UN system. In a 1999 address before NGOs, the Secretary General emphasized the creative use of Internet and global policy networks as a medium of research, communication and exchange. “The biggest gap between North and South” he said “is the knowledge gap. There is no better way to bridge that gap than by fostering truly cooperative networks”…….

UNPAN


UNPANWhy establish UNPANThe various recent UN conferences and the 50th Session of the GA onPublic Administration and Development have stressed that efficientpublic administration systems and a competent civil service areessential for the development efforts, while deficiencies in institutional organization, financial and human resources management of the publicsector most negatively affect the delivery of social services. Many developing countries have embarked on administrative reforms andhave undertaken programmes for modernizing public administration.To succed in these reforms and in modernization, access to internationally available expertise, policy options, successful practices, experiences and training facilities are critical. Therefore,creating a Global electronic virtual network is instrumental inassisting the Member States to better reach these goals.


In late 1999 the Division for Public Economics and PublicAdministration of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, was entrusted by the UN General Assembly to develop the programme entitled “United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance (UNPAN)” for implementation (UN General Assembly Resolution 50/225).

The establishment of UNPANUNPAN


UNPAN

MissionUNPAN’s Mission is to promote the sharing of knowledge, experiences and best practices throughout the world in sound public policies,effective public administration systems and efficient civil services,through capacity-building and cooperation among Member States tobridge the digital divide , with emphasis on South-South cooperation and commitment to integrity and excellence.

ClientsUNPAN’s immediate beneficiaries are Public Administration-related regional and national institutions. Its ultimate clients are the citizens of the world, government entities, the private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions.


UNPAN

ObjectivesThe immediate objective of UNPAN was therefore to establish an electronic platform linking online a number of institutions for information exchange, experience sharing and on-the job training in thearea of public sector policy and management. Its long-term objective is to build the capacity of these regional and international institutions to access, process, and disseminate relevant information via up-to-date information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the promotion of better public administration.To ensure this, UNPAN is designed to reinforce, first of all, the necessary capacities of the regional and international centres partner of the UNPAN Network.


ImpactsTo increase the awareness of countries, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition, of the importance of ICTs and management for development;To build and further strengthen the capacity of international, regional and national institutions in public administration and finance to better access, process and disseminate relevant information via up-to-date ICT;To facilitate South-South cooperation in the area of public administration and the utilization of ICT for development at the international, regional and national levels; and To promote e-fora and easy access to information exchange and experience sharing among countries.

UNPAN


UNPANStructure of UNPAN Global NetworkThe UNPAN Programme is executed and managed by the Division forPublic Economics and Public Administration (DPEPA) of UNDESAthat is charged of the overall coordination of a group of international regional and sub-regional institutions devoted to public administration and finance in the context of social and economic development, titledUNPAN Online Regional Centres (ORCs), and UNPANInternational Centres (OICs).The UNPAN On-line Centres’ selected for their prominence as publicsector policy and management institutions, are responsible for information and knowledge management within their own geographic areas. As a dynamic online network, in fact, UNPAN is being developed so its users can best utilize and benefit from the regional and international centres’ intrinsic capacity and expertise.


UNPANUNPAN Global Network


UNPANWhat is the uniqueness of UNPANWith communication technologies advancing at tremendous rate,electronic information centres, online research organizations, and specialized e-networks are becoming increasingly common and duplicative. UNPAN is different. Its substantive capacity and specialized service, combine to create an uniqueness that sets UNPANapart from conventional web-based information sources, offering:

Universality and unequivocal clarity as an online public sector policy and management information and knowledge network;

Far-reaching access to experiences in the practice of public policy development and management at regional, national and local level;

Easy access to worldwide information in all areas of public sector;Demand-driven and interactive two-way provider of information and

knowledge network.


UNPAN

What are the core themes of UNPANUNPAN’s information and knowledge focus are on the following substantive areas:

Public policies;Governance systems and institutions;Civil service/public sector reform;Management innovation and development;Public finance.


UNPAN

What are the services offered by UNPANUNPAN provides the users with the following services/products:

Online information services;Online training services;Online advisory services;Online conference services;Online directory services.


Technical support by DPEPA/UNDESATechnical assistance on ICT facilities (hardware and software);Technical assistance on improving the ICT connectivities;Technical assistance on human resource development;e-Information management training; and Help-desk services in e-Information management.

UNPAN


The experience of DPEPA/UNDESA on e-govThe United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs(UNDESA), and in particular the Division for Public Economics and PublicAdministration (DPEPA), has undertaken work in the field of modernization of the State and innovation in the public sector for several decades. In light of new global trends and changed realities, the work of UNDESA/DPEPAexpanded to include themes such as knowledge acquisition and provision, public policies on ICT, and public sector applications of ICT, notably e-government.

UNPAN


The experience of DPEPA/UNDESA on e-govIn particular, the experiences of UNDESA/DPEPA on e-government for development are as follows:

In collaboration with the Government of Italy, UNDESA co-organized the“International Conference e-government for development (Palermo,Italy, 10-11 April 2002)” and prepared an “Open Plan of Action on e-government for development”,Global Survey on the e-government Activities of the UN Member States;Develop Regional e-government Strategies and Action Plan (including promotion of the “ICTs for the Development of African Parliaments” programme and of the “e-Africa initiative for good governance:building e-governance capacity in Africa”;At the National level, DPEPA is undertaking e-government pilot projects in some countries, focusing on e-government strategies as well as practical applications.

UNPAN


UNPAN

Who are the users of UNPANThe main users of UNPAN are the following:

Policy makers, such as government official responsible forpublic policies on economic development, reforms and modernization of public administration and management, etc.;Practitioners, among public administrators and managers, and other government officers/professional, national and international, private and NGO managers;Experts and individual, in universities, research and other relevant institutions, engaged in public governance development, public administration theories, government systems and management innovation, and training.


UNPANMain activities undertaken in 2002

4th Interregional Consultative meeting of UNPAN (Palermo-Italy, 9/4/2002); Improvement of UNPAN Website and technological platform (to become, in the long-term, the “Yahoo of Public Administration);Implementation of UNPAN monitoring and evaluation system, training and directory databases;4th UNPAN Training (Shangay, China, June 2002); Report of UNPAN activities to the United Nations Committe of Experts on Public Administration-UNCEPA (1st Meeting, New York 22-26 July 2002);Implementation of the UN Public Service Award process.


UNPANThe main progresses of UNPANSince its establishment UNPAN made consistent progresses in terms of technological, managerial and content development of the UNPANweb-site, including technical assistance provided to ORCs and improvement of e-tools and coordination within the network and with partners. For instance (Unpan Progress Report - December 2002):

8,583 documents checked-in; and 564 e-News/Serial links;27 directory databases; and 167 Conference/Training databases; Management of documents in all UN languages (including Arabic,

Chinese and Russian);Advanced search engine, including websiteworldwide (usingYahoo);Discussion board system to facilitate Network development.


UNPANThe main progresses of UNPAN (continue)In relation to political recognization and appreciation, networking andperformance, the main results achieved by UNPAN are:

UN General Assembly resolution A/Res/56/213ECOSOC resolution E/Res/2001/45 (which requested the expansion

of UNPAN at national level);Increased number of ORCs and OICs members of the network;Increased number of partners and related weblinks (including World

Bank-Public Sector, OECD-PUMA, IMF, etc.);Consistent increased of number of web visits (measured through an

established monitoring system. (December 2002 monthly performance report: 931,971 user’s hits; it started with 90,000 in March 2001);

Evaluation system (including an online survey to measure usefulness, accessibility and effectiveness of services provided).


Results achievedUNPAN

At present, UNPAN serves as a portal for public administration and finance wich is the only one such a network in the world today. Since its launching online in March 2001, UNPAN has been accessed by thousands of interested users from all walks of life around the world, providing ongoing access to the most innovative research, training practices,methodologies and technical assistance. Through its multiple role as an electronic research centre, think-tank, consulting firm and library, the capacity of the regional and international centres will be continuously strengthened so they may effectively function as dynamic sources of information and knowledge and address existing and emerging issues in public sector policy and management.


The future…….UNPAN

The second Phase of UNPAN faces the challenges related to effective information and knowledge management, enhancing governance capacity in African countries. In this regard, the expansion of UNPAN Network to sub-regional and national level in Africa, involving Governments and other African ORCs and regional institutions, within the framework of the NEPAD Plan of Action and in consistency with the preparatory activities of the “World Summit on the Information Society”, will play a pivotal role in enhancing governance capacity in African countries. In this context, the message of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the “4th

Global Forum on Reinventing Government, (Marrakech, Morocco, 10-13December 2002), organized by the Kingdom of Morocco and UNDESA,underlined the importance of the UNPAN Network that “facilitates access to information, disseminates knowledge about “good practices” and provides an international forum for the exchange of experiences.


Presentation of UNPAN Web site

www.unpan.org

http://www.unpan.org/


UNPAN African Network

In Africa, the UNPAN Network includes three institutions:CAFRAD – African Training and Reserach Centre inAdministration for Development;IDEP – African Institute for Economic Development and Planning;OFPA – African Civil Services Observatory.

UNECA is also partner of UNPAN as well as ARADO in Egypt.


UNPAN ORC - CAFRAD

Its major mission is “to contribute to the study (and the solution) of administrative problems inherent in the economic and social development in Africa”. TheCentre fulfills this crucial mandate through training of very senior public officials in various aspects of management; by research on issues related to development administration and governance; and by consultancy. In all these, it has benefited from technical and financial support of not only the Member States (currently 37 African Governments), but also international organizations (particularly the UN system) and donor agencies.

It deals with major critical and challenging issues facing African countries.It serves as clearinghouse for exchanging and disseminating - knowledge and information in African public administration and management;It provides a high-level forum for discussions by African governments on common problem; It enhances capacity building;It operates in three official languages : Arabic, English and French.

The African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) is a tri-lingual, pan African intergovernmental Centre established by African governments, with the support of UNESCO, in 1964.


UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD

UNPAN establishment – Phase 1 (1999-2001)• UN DESA / DPEPA provided equipment, technical support

and training to establish UNPAN facilities at CAFRAD;• UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD organized information and

documentation to participate in UNPAN Global online Network and in UNPAN meetings and training activities;

Thanks to WWW African countries, through UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD, now have immediate and ongoing access to a vital tool for strenghtening and enhancing the capacity of public sector policy formulation and management.


UNPAN ORC – CAFRADUNPAN implementation – Phase 2 (2002-2004)• UN DESA / DPEPA experts to support UNPAN ORC –

CAFRAD, training and advisory services to implementUNPAN activities;

• Design and coordinate regional strategy on UNPANimplementation in Africa, through building a RegionalNetwork on eGovernance, involving Governments and other African ORCs and institutions;

Having established its own information and knowledge infrastructure, UNPAN ORC CAFRAD will act as“African Information and Knowledge clearinghouse”coordinating regional implementation of UNPAN.


UNPAN ORC – CAFRADUNPAN ORC - CAFRAD activities in 20021. Context analysis and assessment of UNPAN ORC -

CAFRAD organization and management;2. Improvement of UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD role as Regional

Focal Point through technical support and training activities;3. Improvement of strategic planning, organization and

management reengineering of UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD; 4. Enhancement of UNPAN ORC - CAFRAD networking and

marketing (to make CAFRAD an African Centre of Excellence);

5. Support to the regional and global implementation of monitoring and evaluation system of UNPAN.


UNPAN ORC – CAFRADOutput achieved (2002)

• Design and implementation of procedures for using UNPANDocumentation Management System;

• Increased involvement of staff in UNPAN activities;• Four-fold increase of documentation checked-in on UNPAN;• Consistent improvement of “quality” and “relevance” of

documentation checked-in;• Development of databases on African legislation, CAFRAD

seminars, training activities, major developments and trends;• Improvement of Country profile database, through

completion and analysis of Survey on African PublicAdministration;

• Digital library development;


UNPAN ORC – CAFRADOutput achieved (2002)

• Long term Strategic plan for the expansion of UNPAN to national level in Africa (eAfrica 2002 Project proposal....) and Kick-off Meeting: e-Africa First Regional Workshop on Building e-governance capacity in Africa (Johannesburg, 28-31 October 2002);

• Ongoing update of major developments and trends in PublicAdministration and Finance in African countries;

• Establishment of a “Stage Exchange Program” with African and International organizations;

• Promotion and networking activity, including PPPs;• Start-establishing an observatory on e-Governance in Africa.


UNPAN ORC – CAFRADStrategic Plan (2003)

• Consolidate UNPAN-ORC-CAFRAD e-Information Management System;

• Improve UNPAN-ORC-performance through developing on-line products;

• Consolidate Networking and partnerships with the relevant public administration institutions in Africa;

• Enhance institutional capacity building of UNPAN-ORC CAFRAD;

• Implement globally applicable techniques in areas of strategic interest of UNPAN;

• Contribute to the implementation of UNPAN to sub-regional and national level in Africa and promote the administrative reform process in Africa.


UNPAN ORC – CAFRADCAFRAD challenges and opportunities

• UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD will play a pivotal role inenhancing governance capacity in African countries throughUNPAN Network implementation at national level;

• As a service-driven provider UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD willfacilitate sharing information and knowledge essential to building capacity and sustaining development among policy and decisions makers, public administrators, the privatesector and civil society.

To make UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD realize its fullpotential, African governments should play an active role in building and sustaining UNPAN regional Network.


Thank You.....Mercì.....

Shoukran....

For more information:www.cafrad.orgwww.unpan.org/africa.asp

[email protected]@un.org

UNPAN ORC – CAFRAD


Let’s have a coffee!Let’s have a coffee!

Documents

United Nations Global Online Network on Public Administration and